Beau Greaves continued to rewrite the record books in professional darts when she became the inaugural woman to claim a match win on the PDC European Tour. Her triumph over Daryl Gurney not only secured a place in the second round of the Czech Darts Open but also set up a clash with world number two Luke Humphries. The 22‑year‑old Englishwoman demonstrated remarkable resilience in Prague on Friday evening, overturning a 3‑1 deficit to defeat Gurney 6‑4. The comeback saw Greaves hit three consecutive legs in 14, 13 and 11 darts, sealing the win with a double‑one finish.
With that victory she will now face Humphries in the last‑32 on Saturday night, and the winner of that encounter will meet either Nathan Aspinall or Andrew Gilding in the third round on Sunday afternoon. Greaves' achievement follows a string of historic firsts for women in the PDC. Earlier this year she became the first female player to throw a nine‑dart finish on the PDC Pro Tour, doing so against Mensur Suljovic in February. She also captured her first PDC ranking title when she edged Michael Smith 8‑7 at Players Championship 11, making her the first woman to win a ranking event.
In addition, she broke another barrier by qualifying for a European Tour event for the first time when she reached the Hungarian Darts Trophy last month. Although she fell to Rob Cross in the opening round of the Hungarian event despite posting a 104 average, Greaves' performance in Prague shows she can translate high averages into wins on the biggest stages. Her victory over Gurney is particularly sweet given that she had previously lost a tight 3‑2 match to him in the first round of the 2026 World Championship. After the match, an exhilarated Greaves reflected on her performance: "It feels amazing.
It's just so nice to win a game, I was so nervous at the start, I don't know why. It took me so long to get settled. It means loads to me, the crowd's fantastic.
It's such a tight stage and you feel so much from the crowd. I'm really enjoying it and loving the experience." Her comments highlight both the pressure of playing on a major televised stage and the supportive atmosphere that helped her settle into her rhythm.
The Yorkshire native also praised the crowd, noting how their energy amplified the intensity of the match. She explained that after the early two‑leg deficit, she found a surge of determination, especially when Gurney produced a 144 checkout—a finish that had previously helped him defeat her at Alexandra Palace late last year.
Greaves' ability to rebound from that moment underscores her mental toughness and growing confidence against top‑level opposition. Looking ahead to her next match, Greaves said she is familiar with Humphries from their meeting at the 2025 UK Open: "I've played Luke on the big stage before so I know what to expect, he's world class so I'm going to have to play a lot better than I did tonight.
What more do you want than on a Euro Tour to play one of the best players in the world? I'll look forward to it and I'll be ready." Her pragmatic approach suggests she respects Humphries' pedigree while also believing that her own game can rise to the occasion.
The Czech Darts Open continues to produce compelling storylines beyond Greaves' breakthrough. On the same Friday, Niko Springer posted a 102 average and dispatched Martin Homola 6‑0, earning a second‑round encounter with world number one Luke Littler.
Springer, speaking before his match with Littler, admitted he has "nothing to lose" and feels "very confident," emphasizing the best‑of‑11 format as an opportunity to test his skill against the top seed. Other notable upsets included the early exits of big‑name players such as Joe Cullen, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Rob Cross, who were eliminated by Stephen Burton, Mario Vandenbogaerde and Keane Barry respectively. These results illustrate the depth of talent on the tour and the increasing competitiveness of the field.
Luke Humphries, who received a bye to the second round as one of the 16 seeded players, is a two‑time defending champion at the Czech Darts Open. He dominated Kim Huybrechts 8‑1 in the 2024 final and overcame Josh Rock 8‑5 the following year.
Known as "Cool Hand," Humphries is targeting a fourth title in five years, having previously beaten Rob Cross 8‑5 in the 2022 final. Other seeded players set to appear in Prague include Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, who will face Mario Vandenbogaerde and Callan Rydz respectively on Saturday night.
The tournament schedule lists an afternoon session at 12:00 BST and an evening session at 18:00 BST, providing ample viewing opportunities for fans. Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts in the United Kingdom, covering major events such as the World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December–3 January). In addition to traditional TV coverage, fans can stream live darts and related content through NOW, which offers a contract‑free option for viewers.
Overall, Beau Greaves' victory at the Czech Darts Open not only adds another historic chapter to her rapidly rising career but also signals a broader shift in the sport, where female competitors are increasingly breaking barriers and challenging the established hierarchy. Her performance, combined with the tournament's mix of established stars and emerging talent, promises an exciting continuation of the event and sets the stage for further breakthroughs on the European Tour.